Tiberias dougherty



(No Model.)

T. DOUGHERTY. V KINDERGARTEN APPARATUS FOR TEACHING SRELL INGRG.

No. 366,821. I Patented July 1-9, 1887.

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It PETERS, Phoivl-ilhographor, Washingmn, D-C.

UNITED STATES I PATENT OFF CE.

TIBERIAS DOUGHERTY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE'HALF TO GEORGE H. OLARKSON, OF SAME PLACE.

KINDERGARTEN APPARATUS FOR TEACHING SPELLING, 84C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,821, dated July 19,1887.

Application filed December 21, 1886. Serial No. 222,162. (No model.)

To all whom it may 0072067711:

Be it known that I, TIBERIAS DOUGHERTY,

a citizen of the United States,'residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pen 11- 5 sylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Teaching Kindergarten Studies, whichimprovement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompany drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a partial front View and partial vertical section of an apparatus for teaching kindergarten studies embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 represent vertical sections thereof, respectively in lines x x and 3 1 Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a view of mechanism thereof on a reduced scale.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

My invention consists of an apparatus for teaching kindergarten studies embodying the representation of objects or subjects and letters of the alphabet, whereby a learner may form the word or name of saidobject or sub- :e ct, and thus readily acquire the art of spelllng.

it further consists of means for ,indicating the termination of the apronv which carries the object-lesson, so that further operation of said apron and consequent tearing of the same is prevented.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a casing having in front an opening, B, and a series of openings, 0. XVithin the casing are mounted the drums D and rollers E, the drums and rollers being located, respectively, one above the other.

F represents an apron or sheet, which is passed around the rollers E and has its ends connected with the drumsl) D, the location of the drums, rollers, and apron being such that the portion of the apron that passes from one roller to the other is seen at the opening 13. Connected with each drum is a ratchet, G, and engaging with each ratchet is a pawl, H, the ratchet of one drum being at the end opposite to that of the other drum, the oper ati ng-pawls being vertically guided at opposite sides of the casing A, and pivoted attheir lower ends to levers H, which are pivoted to the casing A and engaged by keys J J, the latter being pivoted to the casing A, and appearing at the front thereof. A series of keys, K, are also pivoted to the casing-A and located between the end keys, J J, said keys J J K forming a bank, which may be readily opcr- 5 ated by a learner or scholar.

A number of drums, L, are freely mounted on a horizontal axis or shaft, L, the latter being located below the apron F and secured to the casing A, the peripheries of said drums appearing at the openings 0 of the casing.

Connected with the side of each drum is a pulley, M, and a pawl, N, the latter engaging with a' ratchet, P, which is secured to the shaft L.

Passing around each pulley M is a cord, Q, one end of each of which is secured to a key, K, and the other end is connected with a spring, R, which is attached to the casing A. Pulleys M are freely mounted on the shaft L, and have passed around them cords Q,which are attached to the keys J J and springs It, the latter being properly connected with the casing.

Attached to a crossbar, S, on the frame adjacent to the drums D is a gong or bell, T, and mounted on said bar are two bell-hammers, U, which are on opposite sides of said bell. The heel ends of the hammers U are bifurcated, as at V, so as to be engaged by stops or abut 8o ments il secured to a cord, X, the latter be ing attached to the drums D.

Friction-springs Y are interposed between the heads of the drnmsD and the sides of the casing A, for preventingimproper motions of said drums. The apron F has printed, painted, or otherwise marked on it a number of figures or objects, and the drums L have on their peripheries the letters of the alphabet. Now, when the apron is to be moved in order to 0 present a figure or object which can be seen at the opening 13, either of the keys J J are depressed by the teacher. This operates the respective lever H and pawl H, and causes the latter to engage with the proper ratchet 5 G, thus rotating the drum D, with which said ratohetis connected, it being noticed that by the operation of the two drums D motion may be imparted to the sheet F in opposite directions.

\Vhen a key J is depressed, the cord Q follows rco the same and moves around the pulley M and raises the spring R. Vhcn the key is let go, the spring restores the key to its normal position, the pawl being also lowered and cleared of the ratchet G. The scholar or learner is now required to spell the word or name of the figure or object 011 the apron F, in the present case that of a ball. For this purpose the keys K are successively operated until the letters 13 AL L appear, respectively, at the openings 0, and thus the word is formed. \Vhen a key K is depressed, the cord Q rotates the pulley M, and with it the alphabet'drnm L. The pawl N moves with said pulley or drum and engages with the ratchet 1., whereby return motion of the drum is prevented. Then the key is let go, the spring It is inoperative, and the former is returned to its first position, the cord Qsliding over the pulley M, the latter being held by the ratchet and pawl, as has been stated. Owing to the tension on the cord by said spring, forward motion of the drum is prevented, and thus the latter remains stationary until the key is again depressed.

During the operation of the apron F, when the end of the same is about to be reached, one of the stops \V of the cord X enters the bifurcation V of t-hebcll-hammer and engages therewith, thus drawing back said hammer, and as the cord continues its motion the stop clears the bifurcation and the hammer is released, whereby the bell is struck, thus indicating the end of the apron.

Attached to the pawls II are deflectors H, having inclined outer faces, and secured to the casings A, and adapted to be in contact with the said deflectors, are pins or bearingpieees Ti Also secured to the casing are guides 11, in which the said pawls H play. The said deflectors II are of such length and are so secured to the pawl II that when the said pawl is in its lowest position the upper face or squared end of the deflector is above the pin 11 so that there is no liability of it being caught thereby, and thus renderinoperative the device.

In operation, when one of the keys is pressed so that its pawl rises, the upper end thereof comes in contact with the teeth ofthe ratchet and is slightly pushed outward from the center of said wheel, or toward the casing, this outward movement being readily permitted, owing to the inclined face of the deflector, the said deflector being kept, however, in contact with the pin. \Vhen the pawl descends, the upper end thereof, owing to the action of the pin upon the deflector, while being lowered is at the same time pushed from the casing to a position, more nearly under the wheel, so as to readily engage with the teeth of the same on the next upward movement of the said pawl. The openings or slots on the guide 11 are of greater width than the pawls, so as to permit the backward and forward play of the pawl therein.

hen ascholar is required to spell without reference to the figure or object, the apron or sheet is not necessarily used.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patient, is

1. An apparatus for teaching having rollers and drums carrying an endless apron, ratchets on said drums, pawls for operating said ratchets, levers pivoted to said pawls, and keys for operating said levers, the said pawls having the deflectors It, and the walls of the casing having secured thereto the pins or bear ings 11"", and the guides H, the parts being combined and operatingsubstantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for teaching, the combination of the casing A, with opening (I, the shaft L, having ratchet P, the drums L, having pulleys M, with pawl N, and means, substantially as described, to operate said pulleys, all substantially as described.

3. In a'teachiug apparatus, a drum, a pulley, a cord passingaround the same, and a key and spring combined, substantially as described, said key and spring being connected with opposite ends of said cord, whereby said cord operates the drum or pulley and afterward creates friction thereon, as stated.

at. The sheet F and drums D, in combination with the cord X, stops \V, a bell, and belthammer, the latter having its heel ends adapted to be engaged by said stops, substantially as described.

Tllil lltfAS DOUGIIER'IFY.

\Vi tnesses:

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